Former team captain returns as Shrine football head coach

Chris Kelly, a Shrine Catholic High School alumnus from the Class of 2015, is a Knight once again, leading the charge as the school’s new head football coach.
 
“When I think of Shrine football, I think of a very historic past, and I just want to help write that next chapter of Shrine football,” he said. “My goal every year is to make the playoffs, and I believe every year it should be our goal to try to win the Prep Bowl. I want to bring a winning culture and a winning mindset.”
 
Kelly was a varsity athlete in football, hockey and lacrosse. He served as a two-time captain in football and lacrosse, and was honored with the Catholic High School League’s John Shada Award in 2015, named in honor of the famed Catholic High School League football coach. The award is given annually to a male student-athlete who demonstrates exceptional achievement in academics, leadership, community service and athletics while competing on a varsity football team.
 
After Shrine, Kelly attended Hope College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. As a four-year letterman and three-year starter on the Hope College football team, he gained valuable experience on and off the field. He was named to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Honor Roll and interned with Hope College’s strength and conditioning program.
 
Kelly has spent the past several years shaping young athletes through coaching football and powerlifting. At Troy Athens High School he helped lead three state championship-winning powerlifting teams while also serving as a football assistant at Parkway Christian and Athens. He taught elementary physical education for six years, including one year at Shrine Catholic Grade School, which is where his own football career began.
 
“I was just always around Shrine football growing up, and I started playing football in fourth grade at Shrine, and I went all the way through high school. … Part of my plan is I really want to have that connection between the Grade School and the Academy and the High School, and I want it to become the norm that when you start Shrine football in fourth grade or third grade that you’re going to be playing all the way through, and you’re going to play for me up at the high school.”
 
He said his approach to coaching involves learning.
 
“I believe my role as the coach is to try to get the most out of every kid possible. Kids learn in different ways. Kids react different ways to different coaching styles,” he said. His process incorporates “learning and watching, whether other players or other coaches, different coaches, how they interact and what the response from the player was. Just trying to get the most out of the kids. I think football is the greatest sport in the world, and anyone can play football. When they come out, as long as they have the right mindset and a hard-working mindset, you know, we’re going to make it fun for them. We’re going to put them in positions to be successful.”
 
His plan for success includes getting his players to Ford Field.
 
“I got to play in the Prep Bowl twice. If we win our league and go to the conference championship, we get to play at Ford Field,” he said, noting that other leagues only get to do that for the state championships. “If we can get to the conference championship game at Ford Field, play where the Lions play, I think that’d be a very special experience,” he said.
 
“I always told myself that if I ever had an opportunity to come back to Shrine that I would come back. I plan on being here for a long time.”
 
Kelly and his wife currently have a 9-month-old son.
 
“My goal is for him to go to Shrine K-12. He would be the third generation of Kellys to graduate from Shrine.”
 
The Shrine Athletics Department said they are looking forward to the energy, leadership and passion he will bring to the football program.